Driving mechanism for motor vehicles



NOV- .1, 1932- J. GABLI DRIVING' MECHANISM FOR MTAOR VEHICLES Filed Aug 29, 1950 R O T N E V m CBcab gabli ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 1, 1932 .moon GABLT, oF LTNcoLN PARK, mcnrean DRIVING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Application led August 29, 1930. Serial No. 479,917. i

The present invention pertains to a novel driving mechanism for motor driven vehicles such as automobiles, trucks and tractors or any other vehicle of similar nature.

The primary object of the present invention is to devise a driving mechanism for automobiles and other motor vehicles which comprises a driving connection between the motor `and all four wheels whereby all the wheels serve to assist in propelling the vehicle, thereby obtaining an equal distribution of the driving strain and the wear and tear on the tires, thereby increasing the life of the tires and making the vehicle capable of obtaining traction whereby it may pass over muddy or sandy roads which ordinarily cannot be traversed by the conventional rear wheel drive vehicles.

With the above and other ends in view the invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the present driving mechanism, the chassis, body and motor being removed;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line H of Fig. 1, and, Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Like characters of reference are employed l throughout to designate the corresponding parts.

The numeral 1 indicates a gear casing which is mounted upon the automobile chassis by a cross rod 2. rlhe upper portion of the casing receives a gear 3 which is mounted upon the shaft 4 having a universal connection 5 to the crank shaft of the vehicle motor, a portion of the crank shaft being shown and designated by the numeral 6. In the lower part of the casing 1 is rotatably mounted a shaft 7 having a gear 8 keyed thereto and meshingwith the gear 3, each end of the shaft being provided with universal joints as indi cated by numerals 9 and 10.

A conventional rear axle 11 is provided with a differential 12 and wheels V13 and the usual propeller shaft 14 which is connected vto the universal joint 9. A bracket 15 is mounted on the propeller shaft casing 16 to lsupport one end of the'radius rods 17, the 55 opposite ends of the radius rods being at tached to the outer endsofrthe rear axle casing as at 18. Y

The front axle casing 19 Vis also provided with a conventional differential 20, the outer 00 ends of the casing supporting the circular hollow heads 21V which have spindles 22 Y mounted on the upper and lower sides thereof. VDisks 23 are provided with circular re- Y cesses 24 having oilgroove 22 to receive the 65 heads 21 and with a pair of se1ni-circular recesses 23 andstrap members 25 which are secured by bolts 26 to the disk members having semi-circular recesses that combine with recesses 23 to encircle the spindles 21 in a 70 manner whereby the ldisks 23 are pivotally mounted on the ends of the axle casings 19. The axle casing receives the front axle 27 whichI is provided with a universal joint 28 locatedV within the hollow head 21, the axle 75 then projecting through the disk 23 as at 29. The outer end of the axle is keyed as at 30 andthe wheel 31 is held on the keyed portion by means of a nut 32. Y The differential 2O is connected by a pro- 80 peller shaft 33, enclosed in the casing 34, to the universal joint 10 on the shaft 7 A bracket 35 is secured to the casing 34 to receive one end ,of each of the radius rods 36, the opposite ends of the radius rods being S5 securedv to the front axle housing as indicated at 36.

In operationthe motor which is connected by means of the universal joint 5 to the shaft Vv4 rotates the latter, the universal joint 5 90 making it unnecessary that the shaft 6 and 4 should be in perfect alignment. The gear 3 on the shaft 4 meshes with the gear 8 on the shaft 7 and therefore imparts rotation to the latter and it is apparent that the gear ratio could readily be changed to meet varying requirements. Rotation of the shaft 7 causes corresponding rotation of the propeller shaft 14 and the rear wheels 13 and also rotation ofthe propeller shaft 33 and the front 100 axles 27. Rotation of the front axle is transmitted through the universal joint 28 to the wheels 3l by means of the squared or keyed portion 30.

To pivot the front wheels on the spindles 22 in order that the vehicle may be steered there is provided an extension LI on the upper strap members 25, the outer ends of these extensions being connected by a cross rod Il m to which any suitablesteering wheel mechanism may be applied.

Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described it is to be understood that various l5 changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from 'the spirit of the invention as depicted in the following claims, and such changes are contemplated.

What I claim is:

l.' A front wheel drive mechanism comprising an axle casing, a circular hollow head mounted on the outer end of said axle casing, a disk having a circular recess in which saidcircular head is received, diametrically opposite spindles on said head and projecting into semi-circular recesses in the face of said disk surrounding said opening therein, strap members secured to said disk f and having semi-circular recesses coincid- '30 ing with the recesses in said disk to form bearings for said spindles, an axle in said casing, a universal joint on said axle and received in said hollow head, a wheel-rotatably mounted on said disk, and means for connecting said universal joint to said wheel.

2. A :front wheel drive mechanism comprising an axle casing, a circular hollow head mounted on the outer end of said axle casing, ya disk having a circular recess in which said circular head is received,"diamet j rically opposite spindles on said head and projecting into semi-circular recesses in the face of said disk surrounding said opening therein, strap members secured to said. disk and having` semi-circular recesses co-inciding with the recesses in said disk to form bearings for said spindles, an extension formedl integral with one of said straps4 and adapted to be connected to a steering apparatus, an axle in said casing, a universal joint on said, axle and received in said hollow head, awheel rotatably mounted on said disk, and means for connecting said universal 'joint to said wheel.

In testimony whereof I aiifix my signature.

JACOB GABLI.

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